Rains, flood hit Maguindanao

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines  – Dozens of barangays in the province are now flooded after nearby rivers and swamps around the Liguasan Delta overflowed due to heavy rains that started over the weekend.

Laisa Alamia, executive secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said workers of the inter-agency ARMM Humanitarian Emergency and Relief Team (ARMM-HEART) are confirming the extent of the reported evacuations by affected villagers.

Most of the inundated barangays are located in low-lying districts in Maguindanao’s Mamasapano, Rajah Buayan, Ampatuan, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Shariff Saidona Mustapha, Pagalungan, and Datu Montawal towns, all in the second district of the province.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu has placed all of Maguindanao’s flood-prone towns under "flood alert" and ordered local government units and the provincial police to monitor any alarming rise of water levels in rivers and marshes.

The governor has tasked the chief provincial budget officer, Lynette Estandarte, to initiate inspection of the flooded areas and to extend aid  to affected folks.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman and Mangudadatu had both requested the Army’s 6th Infantry Division to provide mobility support to affected communities if the situation worsens.

Alamia said relief workers from the ARMM’s health and social welfare departments are now deployed in flooded areas to help attend to the needs of displaced residents.